Work, Health, and Nursing Research
Work, Health, and Nursing Research
Work, Health, and Nursing Research
Work is a major part of the human experience, and most individuals spend over one third of their waking hours doing a job. Considering this span of time, what we experience and encounter while working undoubtedly has significant bearing on our health. Moreover, the jobs we do typically define a large part of our identities, give meaning to our lives, and define our roles in society, thus having influence on our overall well-being.The notion that working conditions can both directly and indirectly cause debilitating injury or chronic illness has been historically well established.Work, Health, and Nursing Research
Even the ancient Egyptians and Greeks documented diseases related to work or specific job tasks. From a social determinants of health perspective, the conditions in which people work are major contributors to health and well-being. For example, healthcare workers can be exposed to HIV and hepatitis B through a sharps injury, and miners commonly experience lung disease as a result of inhaling mineral dust. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2017), occupational risk is one of the top 10 factors driving the most death and disability in the United States.Work, Health, and Nursing Research